Signaling device



Aug. 13, 1935. c. c. LAMB SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1954 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of signal devices and pertains particularly to a combined direction indicating signal and light projector.

'I'he primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel unit having a transparent or translucent body constituting a housing for light signals, and a light transmitting portion which may constitute a light projector such as a spotlight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined spotlight and direction indicating signal in which the body portion of the light is in the form of a hoodformed of transparent or translucent material through which lighted signal elements may be shown.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a body which is preferably of parabolic formation and which is formed of light transmitting or translucent material in which is housed two signal lights which when energized make apparent an indicating symbol carried by or forming a part of the body. The larger end of the body houses a light reflector over which a lens is positioned and which houses an incandescent lamp which when energized provides a spotlight.

'Ihe invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modied so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the signal structure. Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device embodying the present invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I indicates generally the housing of the present signal which, while shown as being of circular cross section or in the general form of the casing of a parabolic reector, may be of polygonal cross sectional design and of conical or pyramidal form, if desired.

'Ihe illustrated and preferred form of the body I is in the form of a hood or bell. which is divided to form the outer and inner sections 2 and 3, respectively, the outer section being closed at one end, as shown, and having an axial passage 4 for the purpose hereinafter described.

The body I has extended thereinto or is tted over in the assembling of the device, the substantially U-shaped frame 5, the inner wall of the body being provided with a channel i in which this frame engages. The frame 5 has the forward and divergently related ends thereod.' formed integral with a concave head plate 'l at the periphery of which a ange 8 is formed.

Carried by the ange 8 of the frame 5 is a collar band 9 which has an inwardly extending flange I0, which rests upon the flange 8, as illustrated in Figure 2, and the edge of the mouth of the bell-shaped housing I abuts this ange I and is maintained in rm contact therewith by the bolt Il which is extended from the inside of the frame through a suitable aperture therein and through the aperture 4 of the bell. This bolt at its outer end passes through a handle or knob I2 with which the nut I3 contacts, so that it will be readily seen that the knob and frame are drawn together so as to rmly secure the housing I therebetween and to draw the flange 8 of the frame head into rm contact with the collar flange I0 which bears against the edge of the body.

Disposed within the collar band 9 is a reflector I4, the peripheral portion of which rests against the forward edge of the band and has disposed thereagainst the lens I5 which is held in position with the reector I4 by the split annulus I5.

The band 9 has formed integrally therewith the tubular extension I1 which constitutes a trunnion which is oscillatably held in the bearing I8 which is formed transversely of one end of the post I9. This post I9 is in turn supported in a bearing 20 which is carried by any suitable supporting xture, such as an arm 2l which may be attached, as desired, to any part of the vehicle upon which the signal structure is to be mounted.

At approximately the transverse center of the frame 5, there is disposed a reiiector 22 which is secured to the frame and which is of a to snugly position within the housing I at the point of joinder between the two sections thereof. l The housing I is thus divided into two chambers in each of which an incandescent bulb 23 is located.

The frame 5 is of triangular cross sectional, design, as illustrated, in Figure 3, and at suitable points, it is drawn inwardly to form the electric light bulb sockets 24 in each of which a bulb or lamp 23 is mounted. Adjacent each of the diameter sockets 2l, the sides of the frame 5 are cut to form tongues which are bent in into the overlapping relation shown in Figure 3, and which have secured therebetween an insulation lining 26 through the center of which a resilient metallic strip 21 passes. Each of these metallic strips 21 has an end extended into the adjacent socket 24 to a point where one terminal of an inserted base of an incandescent lamp will come into Contact therewith While at its other end, the strip carries a screw or other suitable means 28 for effecting the connection of an electric wire' 29 therewith. l

A similar strip, which is indicated by the numeral 30, is secured in insulated relation to the head 1 of the frame and has the electric wire 3l connected to one end and its other end disposed behind the central portion of the reflector ill, so as to be engaged by the center contact of electric light bulb 32 when the same is introduced into the socket sleeve 33. The wires 29 and 3| are carried olf through the tube trunnion il to the necessary controlling switches and source of potential.

While the bell-like body i has been illustrated as formed in two sections, it is, of course, obvious that it may be cast as a single piece, if desired. This body, whether in two pieces or one, may be formed of transparent material or of a translucent material and in a plane with each of the chambers into which it is divided by the partition reflector 22, it may be pressed to form or have otherwise suitably applied thereto a signaling symbol such, for example, as the arrows 3L These symbols may be formed to stand out so that the material of the housing is thicker where they are formed, or this portion may be made thinner by pressing the material in and by giving to each of the sections a distinctive color, the symbol area, being of a different thickness from the remainder of the body, will stand out distinctly when the enclosed lamps are lighted. If desired, the body l may be made of uncolored material and the bulbs 23 may be of contrasting colors such, for example, as red and green, with the surfaces of the reflector 22 colored to conform to the color of the adjacent bulbs. By this means, when either bulb is lighted, the section of the casing immediately surrounding it will be given the color of the illuminated lamp.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the herein described device is of a novel, efcient and compact design, and may be mounted in any one of a number of locations upon a motor vehicle for manipulation in any desired manner.

What is claimed is:-

1. A signal element, comprising an annular body, a frame connected with said body, a substantially bell-shaped hoodbody of light transmitting material mounted upon and enclosing said frame, said bell-shaped hood having the annular body engaging the mouth edge thereof, a light projecting unit in the annular body, means dividing said hood body to form light chambers, means for illuminating said light chambers, and a signaling symbol carried by the hood body adjacent each of said chambers.

2. In a signaling device of the character described, an annular body, a frame carried by and extending from the annular body at one side thereof, a light projector carried by the annular body and disposed to project light away from the frame, a light transmitting hood carried by and having said frame extending thereinto, said hood being closed at the end remote from thelight projector, a pair of electric light sockets carried by the frame, a partition dividing said hood between said sockets to form two light chambers, and symbols carried by said hood each being disposed adjacent a chamber for illumination by an I illuminating element therein.

3. In a signaling device, an annular frame, means carried by the annular frame for mounting the same upon a support, a reector disposed in said frame, a lens secured before the reflector, an illuminating element between the reiiector and the lens, a substantially U-shaped frame having divergently related side portions which are secured to the annular frame, a bell-like casing of light transmitting material mounted on and having said U-shaped frame extending thereinto, means securing the casing to said frame, means dividing the frame into a pair of light chambers, an incandescent lamp in each of said light chambers, and a signaling symbol carried by said casing adjacent each light chamber.

4. A signaling device, comprising a bell-like casing of light transmitting material having an open end, a light projecting unit disposed before the open end of the casing, a frame carried by said unit and projecting into the casing, means securing said frame to the casing, a partition element dividing said casing transversely to form two light chambers, means forming a pair of electric light sockets integral with the frame, each socket being disposed in alight chamber, an electric light mounted in each of said sockets, and

symbols carried by the casing, each being disposed adjacent a chamber for illumination by the light therein.

5. A signaling device, comprising a bell-like casing of light transmitting material having an open end, a light projecting unit disposed before the open end of the casing, a substantially U- shaped frame carried by said unit projecting into and conforming to the interior contour of the casing, the inner surface of the casing being formed to provide a channel in which the frame engages, means coupling the frame with the casing at the end remote from the unit, said frame being of hollow construction and drawn at two points to form electric light sockets, an electric light in each of said sockets, a contact strip carried by and insulated from the frame adjacent to and extending into each socket, an electric current conductor passing through the frame to and connected with each Contact strip, means dividing the casing between the sockets to form two chambers, and a signal symbol carried by the casing adjacent each of said chambers.

6. A signaling device, comprising a bell-like casing of light transmitting material having an open end, a lightk projecting unit disposed before the open end of the casing, a substantially U- shaped frame carried by said unit and projecting into and conforming to the interior contour of the casing, the inner surface of the casing being formed to provide a channel in which the frame engages, means coupling the frame with the casing at the end remote from the unit, said frame being of hollow construction and drawn at two points to form electric light sockets, an electric light in each of said sockets, a pair of tongues formed from opposite sides of said frame adjacent Yeach socket and bent inwardly in overlapping conductors extending through the frame to and secured to each contact strip, a partition dividing the casing transversely between said sockets to form two light chambers, and signaling symbols carried by the casing each adjacent one of said chambers.

7. In a signaling device, a bell-like body, means closing the mouth of said body having a portion facilitating the mounting of the body, a frame unit carried by said means and extending into and engaging the wall of the body to support the latter, means securing the frame unit and body together, means for illuminating the interior of the body, and light ray transmitting indicia means forming a portion of the body and illuminated by the said illuminating means therein.

8. In a signaling device, a bell-like body, means closing the mouth of said body having a portion facilitating the mounting of the body, a frame unit carried by said means and extending into and engaging the wall of the body to support the latter, a coupling element between the frame and the body, means carried by the said coupling element exteriorly of the body forming a hand hold, means for illuminating the interior of the body, and light ray transmitting indicia means forming a portion of the body and illuminated by the said illuminating means therein.

9. In a signaling device, a substantially U- shaped frame, a bell-shaped body having said frame therein, a reflector within and partitioning the body and secured to the frame intermediate the ends of the latter, a handle mounted upon the bell-like body at the end opposite the mouth, a securing bolt passing through said handle and the body and connecting with said frame, illuminating means within the bell-like body upon opposite sides oi said partition, portions of said bell-like body being light transmitting. a light projector in the mouth of the bell-like body, and means for mounting said body.

10. In a signaling device, a bell-like body, a substantially U-shaped frame extended into the body from the mouth thereof, a light projector having two spaced concentrically arranged and convex back walls, a rim secured to and connecting the edges of said walls, a lens secured to the edge of the outer one of said walls, a mounting post secured to and projecting from said rim, means connected with said frame and passing through the end of the body remote from the light projector, a handle secured by said last means to the outside of the bell-like body; portions of said bell-like body being light transmitting, an illuminating element within the belllike body, an illuminating element in the light projector between the lens thereof and the outer back wall, a current conducting means leading from the exterior of the bell-like body through said frame and between said convex walls respectively to the said illuminating elements.

CLYDE C. LAMB. 

